Best Public Schools in Aynor, SC

The city of Aynor, South Carolina, is served by two public schools within the Horry 01 school district, which ranks in the 88th percentile statewide, offering education from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade with a combined enrollment of 1,682 students.

For parents, the standout institution is clearly Aynor High, which consistently ranks among the top 10-17% of high schools in South Carolina, earning 4-5 star ratings over the past three years. Its graduation rate of 96.1% far exceeds both the district (89.6%) and state (86.7%) averages, and its dropout rate of 1.0% is less than half the state average. The high school excels in end-of-course exams, particularly in English 2 (92.7% proficiency) and U.S. History (85.7%), both well above state averages. In contrast, Aynor Elementary performs solidly but less spectacularly, ranking in the 69th-75th percentile range. Its most impressive result is 5th-grade math, where 72.4% of students are proficient—a remarkable 24.3 percentage points above the state average. However, 4th-grade science is a weak spot at 50% proficiency, below the district average of 57.1%.

One notable concern is chronic absenteeism at Aynor High, which sits at 25.0%, higher than both the state (22.3%) and district (19.4%) averages, despite the school's strong academic outcomes. Additionally, the high school has shown a slight downward trend in its state ranking over three years, dropping from 18th to 41st place, though test scores remain strong. There is no middle school in Aynor, so students in grades 6-8 must attend schools outside the city, creating a potential transition point. The high school also spends about $3,147 more per student than the elementary school ($16,259 vs. $13,112), which is typical given secondary-level facilities and programs. Overall, Aynor offers a high-performing high school paired with a capable elementary school, both supported by a strong district, though families should be aware of the attendance issue and the elementary science gap.